Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-03

Iir.t lnnuaI Report OF The Commits
SION.

fgririrrrapl 20 che Dispa,ch'
W,su NoroN. December The first
annual report Of iho Interstate Com
m,rce Commission bass been laid before
t.r Secretary obi the interior for trans
mission Congress. Iti- printed dOcu-
mtut O., iouytlre pages, exclusive of
tatunraIl .uIir.e. tno commission has
as set DO satisfies OF It's own collection
80 Law before the public, bnt, adopting
those of thc manual generally accepted
"a, relMllo. DO states tlc total railroad
mileage 80 tbe close of 1855 at l33, do6,
aud estimates that l,@>l miles have since
been adi,d. making l3rHe5 miles, d.
Vdel among I2WrlIrolds, operated 10y
400 corporations, which are subject to
tie provisions of the act creating the
comm sion
The commission, after the hearing Of
all tAe argument, advanced 10y those who
unue1r,. for the express companies, IS
a. the opinion that tlt express business,
SD fer us % ls done hy railroad companies
theus. Ives. whether directly and 10y
their managing Ciac,r- or indirectly and
through nominal corporations created
fort.c purpose, is within tine act, and
that .1ch companies are under obligation
o. >ee that the tariffs are filed and that
t.e rules Of fairness and equality which
t., act frDserlbes are observed. Whe-
thor tue express companies which are
independent oi railroads are with
lu iur contemplation of the act is
uOl- tolt'gL The commission is OF
opinion tia, tne question Is one which
Congress ought % put beyond question
lv either expire SLY and 10y designation
iuc.lfuc express companies or 10y ex-
cIulicr them. These observations also
an"f tp miscellaneous corporations en-
gagged ODD the transportation of oil, live
stock, furnishing extra accommodations
20 passengers. 0c.
levi wing the railway operations du-
ring o.. period which has elapsed since
tle act took effect. the commission feel
warranted ia saving that while less has
been dome IN the direction of bringing
irG-ht tariffs into conformity with the
genera. Ulc prescribed by the fourth
section oman some persons perhaps ex-
p.e',.. ro has nevertheless been a
cItiti. advance in that direction,
anl tr... SIS every reason 10 believe that
tins wal continue. That substantial
benefit, viii flow from making the rule
OIL. general as shall be found practicable
calnot bee doubted, and even when the
Circumstances and conditions of long and
,l.H haul traffic are dissimilar the desi-
b. 'v of avoiding any considerable
disparity IN charges is great and obvious.
So r therefore, and so fast as business,
IgI zee. and proper regard to the IN
ti..ts of communities which would be
al urbed and injured by precipitate
changes VIII admit of Its being done,
such railroad companies as do not now
conform 70 statutory rule should make
their rates on these two classes Of traffic
moro obviously Just and more proper
tonal than they have hitherto been or
DOW are.
in dealing with the subject Of filing
aud publication of tariffs the commission
saws the clerical force of the commission
is too small Some idea of the labor de-
volved upon this clerical force may be
formed when If Is known that, rs can now
bc estimated, 10000 books, papers, and
documents showing rates, fares, and
charges for transportation, and contracts,
agreements, or arrangements between
carriers in relation TO interstate
traffic have been fled in the
Office Of the commission. all of which
required appropriate classification and
systematic arrangement II has been
quite impossible 10 10 more with these
tnan 20 acknowledge the receipt, classify
and index them, and put them in order
i0r reference. The organization Of
general system upon which they might
most usefully be made has not been at
tempted. nor was any systematic investi-
cation of their contents for the purpose
If observing 20 what extent the pro-
visions Of the act 70 regulate commerce
complied with in their preparation.
Under the head OF general obserya-
ton the commission says The act 10
regulate commerce has now been in
operation nearly eight months. One
immediate effect was TO cause inconye-
uence in many quarters, and even yet
tae business Of some parts OF the coun-
lAF ~ upl lllN dNlNottA W ~. CNtN~
curriers' also are not as yet ia their opera
lions conforming in all respects to
iis spirit and purpose. Nevertheless
the commission feels justified IN say
ing that the operation OF the act has IN
general been beneficial. In some particu-
lars, a. We understand, rs has also been
cases with similar statutes in some OF the
States, il has operated directly 10 increase
railroad earnings, especially IN cutting
III free passes on interstate passenger
traffic and in putting an end 70 rebates,
aud special rates upon freight
business. The results Of the law IN these
respects are also eminently satisfactory
10 the general public; certainly 70 all
Who had not been won't 10 proht by
special or personal advantages.
Ia connection with the abolition OF
.he pass system there has been some re-
iaction ia passenger fares, especially IN
ihe charge made for undergraduates IN
he Northwest section Of the country.
where they are perhaps most employed.
The freight traffic for the year has
'een exceptionally large in volume, and
. believed 10 have been IN no small de-